John Nisbet
Encyclopedia
John Nisbet was a Scottish covenanter
who was executed for participating in the rebellion at Bothwell Brig. The son of an Ayrshire
tenant farmer, Nisbet traveled to mainland Europe as a professional soldier. He attended the 1650 coronation of Charles II
at Scone
, where he subscribed the covenant, swearing his allegiance to ‘all the acts of reformation attained to in Scotland from 1638 to 1649’. After returning to the family home at Hardhill, near Loudoun
, he married Margaret Law.
Nisbet regularly attended illegal field conventicles and participated in the battles at Rullion Green
(1666), Drumclog
(1679), and Bothwell Brig (1679). He was subsequently declared an outlaw with a substantial reward offered for his capture. Nisbet was eventually captured at Fenwick
and executed at Kilmarnock Cross on 14 April 1683. Nisbet is buried at Kilmarnock's Laigh Kirk a few yards from Kilmarnock Cross.
A plaque has been placed in Kilmarnock town centre in memory of John Nisbet.
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
who was executed for participating in the rebellion at Bothwell Brig. The son of an Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
tenant farmer, Nisbet traveled to mainland Europe as a professional soldier. He attended the 1650 coronation of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
, where he subscribed the covenant, swearing his allegiance to ‘all the acts of reformation attained to in Scotland from 1638 to 1649’. After returning to the family home at Hardhill, near Loudoun
Loudoun
Loudoun is an area of East Ayrshire, Scotland, east of Kilmarnock. The word Loudoun is a derivative of the Celtic Pagan God name Lugus.Loudoun is a parish and is named after the former village which stood north of Galston. The area is commonly referred to as the "Irvine Valley", for the River...
, he married Margaret Law.
Nisbet regularly attended illegal field conventicles and participated in the battles at Rullion Green
Battle of Rullion Green
The Battle of Rullion Green in the Pentland Hills, Scotland on 28 November 1666 was the culmination of the brief Pentland Rising . At least 3000 men of the Scottish Royal Army led by Tam Dalyell of the Binns opposed about 900 Covenanter rebels.The Pentland Rising was in the context of the...
(1666), Drumclog
Battle of Drumclog
The Battle of Drumclog was fought on 1 June 1679, between a group of Covenanters and the forces of John Graham of Claverhouse, at High Drumclog, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.- The battle :...
(1679), and Bothwell Brig (1679). He was subsequently declared an outlaw with a substantial reward offered for his capture. Nisbet was eventually captured at Fenwick
Fenwick, East Ayrshire
Fenwick is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. As of 2001, its population was 863.Fenwick is the terminus of the M77 following its extension which was opened in April 2005, at the beginning of the Kilmarnock bypass....
and executed at Kilmarnock Cross on 14 April 1683. Nisbet is buried at Kilmarnock's Laigh Kirk a few yards from Kilmarnock Cross.
A plaque has been placed in Kilmarnock town centre in memory of John Nisbet.